Key Takeaways
- Erling Haaland’s fifth-minute chip was enough to beat Burnley and put Manchester City top of the Premier League.
- The Clarets are now almost certain to go straight back down after just one season in the top flight.
- Arsenal, who had led the table for more than six months, now trail City by a single point with five games left.
Manchester City climbed to the Premier League summit for the first time since August after a cool early finish from Erling Haaland gave them a 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed only five minutes to strike. Nico O’Reilly picked out Marc Guéhi, who found Jérémy Doku wide on the left. The Belgian’s raking pass split Burnley’s back five and Haaland lofted the loose ball over advancing keeper Martin Dubravka.
City controlled possession but failed to add a second. Dubravka denied Rayan Cherki and O’Reilly before half-time, while at the other end Zian Flemming twice dragged wide when well placed.
The hosts refused to fold, squeezing space and forcing Guardiola to introduce fresh legs in Nico González and Savinho. Both substitutes tested Dubravka late on, yet the single goal proved enough to nudge Arsenal off the top and edge Vincent Kompany’s Burnley ever closer to the Championship.
